Tusheti Protected Areas

Tusheti Protected Areas (Tusheti National Park, Tusheti Protected Landscape and Tusheti State Nature Reserve) were established in 23 April, 2003 in order to conserve cultural and natural heritage in Tusheti region and ensure peaceful co-existence of humans and environment.

Tusheti Protected Territories cover large depression in the north of the Central Caucasus, surrounded by high mountains. This territory is called Tusheti since II century A.C.

 

Total area of Protected Territories is 121.950 ha. It is 1500-4500 m. above sea level and it is one of the biggest and high altitude parks on the territory of Europe.

Visitors are astonished by the severity and the beauty of Tusheti Mountains, intact and wild nature, environment of traditional villages and delicious cooking, architectural monuments from past centuries that so closely intertwine in the beautiful nature and the landscape of Tusheti. These are the memories that Tusheti offers to its visitors.  

 

 

Route length – 36 km;

Route Direction: Omalo - Ageurta - Dotkalto - Diklo - Diklo Khaa - Shavi Kvisha - Sanare - Sonekhi - Shenako - Omalo

The first day of travel – you will see the most beautiful villages of Tusheti: Omalo, Shenako, Diklo and ruins of villages Ageurta and Old Diklo. You will cross Alazani River by hang-bridge. In dense, virgin pine groves you will follow an ancient sledge road cut through the woods 200 years ago. Here you will have a great view of a rocky pine forest, where some endangered animals -- Ounce and Wild Goat -- are dwelling.

Overnight – you can either stay in the tent on Dotkalto field, or in a guest house.

The second day of travel – you will pass Alpine meadows to the direction of famous Diklo Mountain (4285 m. above sea level). You will see Dagestan border mountain range (Batsi-Butsi) and Dagestan Mountains.

Overnight stay – camping space “Shavi Kvisha”.

The third day of travel – from Shavi Kvisha you will descend along the range to the alpine meadows to sheep-breeder's shelter called Sanari, where you will observe tradition activities of Tushetian shepherds. Afterwards, you will continue the trip along the range, towards to the Mountain Sonekhi. You will have a view of 4 gorges and 14 villages of Tusheti from that place.

Route length - 23 km;

 

Route direction: Omalo - Khoshane - Igone - Oreti - Chikhale - Tsokalta - Omalo

 

The first day of travel begins in Omalo and continues in Khoshane gorge along the meadows on river embankment where Khoshane River flows into Alazani River at the altitude of 1600 m. From Khoshane the path leads to the pine forest. On the slope, there are three centaury old pine groves of almost 40 meters high and rather young pine and asp groves. The path leads through the pastures called “Igone” and goes up to the most beautiful gorge of Vadaeti, it crosses the range on 2750 m. and leads to Oreti plateau slope. Suddenly, a green lake "Udziro" (“bottomless” in Georgian) appears among the sub-alpine shrubs and rhododendrons. There is a night shelter at the lake (2650m. from sea level). From Oreti you can see whole Tusheti, North Georgian border - Tusheti Range surrounding with glaciers, pick Tebulo (4492 m) and the Diklo Mountain (4285 m).

 

The second day of travel – the hiking pass leads through the sub-alpine forest to the chapel “Chikale.” The trip ends at the village Omalo or Khiso.

Horse route "Dochu"

Route length – 28 km;

 

Route direction: Omalo - Gele - Sakheo - Dochu - Gogrulta - Kekhi - Khakhabo – Omalo

 

First day of the trip -- The tourists travel on Pirikiti Tusheti road through the pine forest to the field (2250m above sea-level.) that is a crossing point of trails to Dartlo, Omalo and Dochu. This is a place where all Tushetian community meetings were held in the past. The trail leads to Pirikiti Range (Makratela) that divides Tusheti into two main gorges. From this trail you can see main gorges of Tusheti – to north: Pirikiti Gorge and Tusheti Range; and to south: Chagmis Gorge and Gomertsi Gorge and the Central Caucasus. From the chapel called "Sakheo" (2290m above sea-level), the path descends along the slightly inclined field to the village Dochu.

 

Dochuis one of the most well preserved old Tushetian architectural monument. It is exciting to see three-storied houses, halls and boiler-houses in the village.

 

Afterwards, the trail passes by the village Gogrulta, the beautiful gorge of river Ortskali, village Khakhabo and ends in the village Omalo.

 

Overnight stay is possible in guest houses in Dochu or on the camping places near Gogrulta.

 

 

Route length – 65 km;

 

Route direction: Omalo - Dartlo - Farsma - Nakaicho Pass - Verkhovani - Tsaro - Tsovata - Alaznistavi - Vakisdziri - Iliurta - Vestmo - Gogrulta - Dochu - Omalo

 

The first day of travel begins in the village Omalo and continues to Pirikiti Gorge. Your first host will be the village Dartlo known for its hospitality. The travel continues to the village Chesho, where in the guest houses "Jiki" and "Komito" you will be treated with local, as well as European cuisine.

 

The second day of travel – You’ll cross the river Pirikiti Alazani near the village Farsma (1750m.), you will go through Nakaicho Pass that overlooks one of the most beautiful views of Tusheti and go to Gomertsi Gorge. You can spend the night in a guest house located in historical tower in the village Verkhovani.

 

The third day of travel you will visit ruins of Tsova (community in Tusheti) villages and beautiful fields surrounding Alazani River. You can spend a night in tents.

 

The fourth day of travel – you’ll continue your trip along the Gometsari Gorge towards village Vakisdziri. National hero of Tusheti – Zezva Gaprindauli was from that village. Afterwards, you will pass through the village Iliurta and you can stay overnight in the village Vestimo at Ivanaurta Community either in a guest house, or in a tent.

 

On the fifth day of travel you will pass through the villages Sachigilo and Gogrulta to visit village Dochu, distinguished by its architecture. In the village Dochu you will see two hundred years old houses and hand-made household items. The trip finishes in the village Omalo.

 

 

Group size: 4-7 persons.